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Dx'd with severe anal stricture, I think high up in the rectal canal, or so I'm told, about 6 months ago. GI says I have some mild pouchitis that seems to come with it. I've had my pouch since 1997.  The episodes come with frequent and ongoing bloating, lots of gut pain, nausea, heartburn, and I'm having difficulty finding things I can eat.

Additionally, I experiencing more accidents at night. I feel like I have a partial obstruction a lot of the time.

This lasts about 3 weeks at a time or longer. I'm also realizing that I have to take really good care of myself because stress exacerbates everything.

Metronidazole usually helps, but they just want me to go for dilation under anesthesia treatments and don't want to keep me on antibiotics so much of the time. We're talking about the VA here, so I hope I'm getting the treatment I need. Sometimes you never know. Especially since they almost killed me when I had my first J pouch surgery. I also am getting iron infusions as the hematologist says I don't really absorb iron or much nutrition. Has anybody else had this problem with any of the above or combination of? I am pretty miserable.

Thank you!!

Susie

Tags: Dx'd, Pouchitis, iron

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Some doctors seem to go overboard to avoid long-term antibiotic use. I’d rather not be on long-term antibiotic, but for me it’s better than the alternative. If your stricture symptoms are relieved by metronidazole then it’s probably caused by pouchitis-inflamed tissue rather than something like scar tissue. If it’s inflammation then 1) the dilation may not work very well, and 2) the inflammation still has to be controlled. What’s their long-term plan for controlling the pouchitis? How long can you go without metronidazole before symptoms return?

Some GI’s encourage their patients to switch from antibiotics to a biologic medication, and this can be helpful, especially if the antibiotics are causing troublesome side effects.

Scott F

Thank you! My life blew up between my post and response here. Situation now resolved. Lol i am realizing because of this how much stress plays a part in my symptoms. When i am in my own stress free zone, things settle to some degree. But not a guarantee.

And yes, i think they might have mentioned biologics. The surgeon is scheduling me for dilation. So this is news that it might not be necessary and pouchitis inflammation related. Maybe i need to bring this topic up before they start poking around down there!

The other thing is I'm dealing with the VA hospital. Things at my area VA are improving and I feel like i have more attentive docs, but dealing with "civilian"doctors  is different where by they have more autonomy to act. Thanks so much!! 😃

Not your average gal!

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